In 2010–11, the NBA delivered 84 per cent of activities against the planned outcomes. Table 5.1 demonstrates the overall trend in the NBA’s delivery against our operational plans over the past five years.
| Year | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | 2008–09 | 2009–10 | 2010–11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance (%) | 85% | 81% | 95% | 91% | 84% |
Good progress was made in all non-completed items, but several milestones were not met. The delays were not significant for external stakeholders as they related to objectives set for internal procedures in pursuit of continuous improvement.
Through its 2011–12 operational plan, drafted during the year, the NBA will continue to focus on supply planning, professional contract negotiation and management, and strategies to increase the appropriateness of product use while increasing our effort on sector systems and data capture and analysis.
Key challenges for the coming year include:
During 2010–11, the NBA provided secretariat services for five face-to-face meetings of the JBC. The Secretariat implemented a number of procedural changes to address recommendations of the Administrative Review of the National Blood Arrangements 2009. JBC members were unanimously satisfied with the quality and timeliness of support provided.
A total of 98.25 per cent of papers prepared by the NBA were provided to the JBC at least seven days before the meetings and 88 per cent of recommendations in the NBA papers were agreed by the JBC.
The NBA Secretariat helped to organise the inaugural CTEPC Blood Policy Forum, held on 8 March 2011. One recommendation arising from the review was an increased policy role for CTEPC in the blood sector. Another was the establishment of a blood policy forum, which was seen to be a key component in the development of a strategic agenda for blood policy in Australia. The forum program consisted of presentations on priority issues followed by workshop discussions. Attendees included CTEPC and JBC members and representatives from the NBA, the Blood Service, NHMRC, ACSQHC, HealthPACT, the Australia and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion (ANZSBT) and the Haemophilia Foundation of Australia (HFA).
Secretariat services were also provided to a joint meeting between the JBC and the CTEPC, held immediately after the Blood Policy Forum. At that meeting agreement was reached to undertake further work on the management of IVIg, patient blood management, risk-based decision-making for blood safety and on effective communication of the Statement on national stewardship expectations for the supply of blood and blood products, and the ACSQHC National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard for blood and blood product. The joint meeting also agreed that the forum should be held on an annual basis in future. The JBC Secretariat has been tasked to work with the CTEPC Secretariat to organise these meetings.
Secretariat services were also provided to the NBA Board, which met four times during 2010–11. All NBA Board meetings were held in Canberra.
The NBA is committed to providing a professional, high-quality, efficient service to clients, stakeholders and the general public, in accordance with the Public Service Act 1999. Our roles and responsibilities in dealing with external clients, and their rights in dealing with us, are described in the NBA Customer Service Charter, which was developed in early 2007.
During the year the NBA received two feedback responses through this link, both commenting positively on NBA initiatives. The Customer Service Charter is available on the NBA website at www.nba.gov.au/feedback.html.